Decorative tree covering for ornamenting an artificial tree

ABSTRACT

A decorative tree covering including a tinsel garland attached to backing strips in a pre-designed pattern. The tall covering is adapted to be draped, in tent-like fashion, over a tree, such as a Christmas tree, for ornamentation purposes. An alternate embodiment utilizes a web network for supporting the garland; the tree is further adorned with bows, etc., attached to the network.

July 11, 1972 s. D. SLOANE 3,676,275

DECORATIVE TREE COVERING FOR ORNAMENTING AN ARTIFICIAL TREE Filed Oct.19, 1970 .3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR SEYMOUR D. SLOANE ATTORNEYSDECORATIVE TREE COVERING FOR ORNAMENTING AN ARTIFICIAL TREE S. D.SLOANE.

Jul 11', 1972" Filed Oct. 19, 1970 INVENTOR SEYMOUR D. SLOANE 5. D.sLoArJE July 11, 1972 DECORATIVE TREE COVERING FOR ORNAMENTING ANARTIFICIAL'TREE 5 Sheets-Sheet:

Filed Ocq. 19, 1970 SEYMOUR D. SLOANE 9 :7? ATTURNEYS United StatesPatent Ofice 3,676,275 Patented July 11, 1972 3,676,275 DECORATIVE TREECOVERING FOR ORNAMENT- lNG AN ARTIFICIAL TREE Seymour D. Sloane, 7938210th St., Flushing, N.Y. 11364 Filed Oct. 19, 1970, Ser. No. 81,762Int. Cl. A47g 33/08 US. Cl. 161-14 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates to ornamentation devices and more particularly toa decorative tree covering.

The tree covering of this invention is especially adapted for, but notsolely limited to, use with Christmas trees. The seasonal trimming ofChristmas trees, used both for commercial purposes such as in storewindow displays as well as within the home, is both a time consuming andsomewhat burdensome task.

This invention is intended to facilitate the decorating of such treesand to provide a time-saving expedient, particularly useful during thebusy holiday season.

The decorative tree covering is adapted to be draped over or placedaround a tree in a tent-like fashion, and is flexible enough to beaccommodated over trees of Various sizes. The device is comprised of aplurality of longitudinal rib members or backing strips which aresecured together and radiate from a central ring, said ring being placedover the top or main stem of the tree and supported thereby. Additionalsupport is provided by the projecting tree branches. A garland comprisedof a wreath, festoon, chain of flowers, tinsel, etc., is aflixed to thebacking strips in a pendulous manner to form a pre-designed pattern. Thetree covering is formed as an integral unit; however, a modifiedembodiment is provided with a longitudinal opening and closure fasteningmeans running generally along the opening. The covering may also beformed as two separate half-sections joined together by means of similarfastening devices. A further embodiment encompasses the use of a webnetwork including a plurality of longitudinal and transverseintersecting backing strips suspended from the top of the tree forsupporting attached garland and adorned with bows or other decorativeattachments at each of said network intersections.

It is an object therefore of this invention to provide a decorative treecovering of the general character described herein.

Specifically it is an object of the instant invention to provide adecorative tree covering having a pre-designed pattern which may bedraped over a tree as an integral unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decorativetree covering having a plurality of longitudinal backing strips forsupporting a garland.

Another object of this invention is to provide a decorative treecovering wherein a web network is draped over the tree in tent-likefashion and has attached thereto ornamental articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a decorative treecovering which is readily adapted for placement over a tree and presentsan aesthetically pleasing appearance.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiments when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown some of the variousembodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Christmas tree showing the decorativetree covering of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective enlarged view of the decorative tree coveringshown prior to placement over the tree and includes a plurality oflongitudinal backing strips adapted to be fastened over the top or mainstem of the tree and also has a plurality of generally transversegarlands shown in a pre-designed pattern and attached to thelongitudinal strips.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the decorativetree covering of this invention wherein a longitudinal opening isprovided to permit the covering to be wrapped around the tree, membersare included to fasten the covering in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a partial auxiliary view shown to an enlarged scale takenalong line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and shows in detail the hook and eyelet membersfor fastening the covering.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial perspective view taken of the encircledportion of FIG. 2 and shows a central ring member for securing togetherone end of each longitudinal strip.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two half-sections of a modifiedembodiment of the decorative tree covering of this invention wherein thetwo half-sections are joined together by means of hook and eyeletmembers.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the upper portion of thedecorative tree covering showing a hollow cone shaped mounting fixtureadapted to be placed over the top or main section of the tree, themounting fixture additionally has an annular rim for securing the endsof a plurality of longitudinal strip members.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the decorative tree covering ofthis invention wherein the garland is attached to the longitudinalbacking strips in a pre-designed and polygonal configuration.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG.7 and shows fastener attachment of the garland to the longitudinalbacking strip.

FIG. 9 is a further embodiment of the decorative tree covering of thisinvention wherein a web network formed by a plurality of intersectinglongitudinal backing strips and transverse backing strips which supportthe garland in a decorative pendulous pattern; additionally, a pluralityof bows are affixed to the network at the points of intersection of saidbacking strips.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale taken along line 1010of FIG. 9 and shows in detail the garland and the bow attached to theintersecting backing strips.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view to an enlarged scale taken of theencircled portion of FIG. 9 and shows a central ring placed over the topor main stem of a tree for supporting the longitudinal and transversebacking strips forming the web network.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference number 20 denotesgenerally the decorative tree covering of this invention which as shownin FIG. 1, is adapted to be placed over or around a tree 22, typically aChristmas tree, for ornamentation purposes. The tree covering 20, ispreferably fashioned in a predesigned pattern and may be formed as anintegral unit having a tent-like appearance as shown in FIG. 2. Thecovering is comprised of a plurality of longitudinal backing strips 24which are secured together and radiate from a central ring 26, said ring26 being adapted for placement over the top or main stem 28 of tree 22.One end of each longitudinal strip 24 is provided with fastening means,such as hook 29, which is adapted to be engaged around ring 26 and tothereby support the longitudinal backing strip 24.

The longitudinal backing strip 24 is preferably made of syntheticplastic, e.g. polyvinylchloride, and may be gold colored. However, cord,wire, chain or other lightweight durable material having a variety ofdesired colors, may also be used. The use of synthetic plastic for thelongitudinal backing strips 24 will conveniently permit joining ofseveral strip segments to extend the length thereof or joining twostrips together at their point of intersection, by means of heatsealing, stapling, gluing, etc.

To complete the covering 20, a plurality of garland segments 30 areattached to and draped transversely between two respective longitudinalbacking strips 24; the garland 30 may additionally be attached to andalong the longitudinal backing strips 24. Alternatively, the garland 30may be used as the longitudinal backing strips 24.

The garland 30 is comprised of a wreath, festoon, chain of flowers,tinsel, etc. In the preferred embodiment, a tinsel garland is used whichis constructed of metallic yarn wrapped around a core of cotton, cottonwire, silk, rayon, etc., having radiating finger-like threads, copperplated, to produce a glittering golden color (see FIG. 4). The garland30 is draped in pendulous manner between each of two respectivelongitudinal strips 24 by means of staples, or other appropriatefastening means at intermediate locations 32 therealong. The garland 30may also be aflixed longitudinally along the backing strips 24 and mayalso be used for the longitudinal strips 24.

The so formed, tent-like covering 20 will be basically conical in shapeand flexible enough in its radial direction to permit accommodation overtrees 22 having various sizes. It should of course be noted that thecovering 20 will be supported both by the main stem 28 passing throughthe central ring 26 and by the branches of the tree extending outwardlyand engaging the longitudinal backing strips 24 and garland 30.

In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a tree covering 20a isprovided with fastening means comprised of a plurality of hooks 34 andeyelets 36, although a single, flexible plastic piece to hold the twostrips together could be used as a fastener. In a preferred embodiment,the hooks 34 are fastened to a longitudinal backing strip 24a and theeyelets 36 are attached to a longitudinal backing strip 24a havinggarland 30a thereon. The tree covering 20a of this modified embodimentcan be wrapped around a tree instead of being lowered over the tree asis the case for the covering 20 shown in FIG. 2. The hooks 34 andeyelets 36, as shown in FIG. 4, are attached to a band 38, 38', saidband being affixed to the longitudinal backing strip 24a and 24a. Theband 38, 38' also hold the adjoining garlands 30, 30a.

In another embodiment, a decorative tree covering 20b encompasses twoseparate and integral half-sections 40. The half-sections 40 are adaptedfor mating engagement and each section contains longitudinal backingstrips 24b, 24b, in this embodiment; garland is used for the backingstrips, and transverse garlands 30b are attached thereto. On each of thehalf-sections 40, are provided in the respective sets of hooks 34b andeyelets 36b. A cone shaped mounting fixture 42 is used for suspendingthe longitudinal backing strips 24b over the tree. The mounting fixture42 is hollow and adapted to be placed over a main stem 28b of the treeand is further provided with an annular portion 44 which will accept aplurality of angular fasteners 46 attached to the ends of each of thelongitudinal backing strips 24b, 24b and will thus hold longitudinalbacking strips 24b, 24b together and support the attached garlands 3012.Besides fastening the two sections by hook and eyelets assemblies, thetwo sections could be joined by single fastener, such as a hog ring,etc.

It should be apparent that the pre-designed garland patterns may bevaried and FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modified arrangement and method ofattaching the garland 300 in a polygonal fashion. In this embodiment,the garland 30c serves as its own backing strips and a continuous stripof garland 300 is positioned over the plurality of crossing garlands 30cand attached to each other by means of a staple fastener, hog ring 56,or like device (see FIG. 8). The garland strips 300 as shown in FIG. 7are designed to form a polygonal pattern.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate further embodiment which encompasses theuse of a network web including a plurality of longitudinal backingstrips 24d and a plurality of transverse and intersecting transversebacking strips 48. The backing strips 24d and 48 are joined at theirpoints of intersection 50 by appropriate fastening means such aswelding, gluing, stapling, heat sealing, etc. The longitudinal backingstrips 24d are secured together with angular fasteners 46 adapted forengagement around a central ring 26d. The ring 26d is placed over a mainstem 28d of the tree and will thereby support the web network so formed.The garlands 30d may be draped in a pendulous manner and aflixed to thebacking strips 24d and 48 in a manner similar to that described withrespect to the other embodiments. Additionally, this embodiment entailsthe use of a bow 52 or other adornment aflixed to the Web network and asillustrated in this case may be attached at the point 50 of intersectionbetween the backing strips 24d and 48. Bows 52 may be attached by meansof a pliable wire or clip and can additionally secure the longi- Zudinalbacking strip 24d to the transverse backing strip It should be notedthat the above cited embodiments are intended as exemplary, and whilethey have described the invention with specific implementation thereof,other modifications, and changes might be made in the embodinfient soset forth and will be apparent to those skilled in t e art.

Furthermore, it should be understood that all materials herein describedor shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A decorative tree covering for ornamentation purposes comprising aplurality of backing strips, said means further being adapted forattachment to the top of a tree, and a plurality of garlands fastened tosaid longitudinal backing strips in a predesigned pattern; said treecovering is formed as two half-sections, said half-sections beingprovided with a plurality of fastening members and corresponding otherfastening members for interlocking engagement when the covering is inplace around a tree, and further includes a hollow cylindrical mountingfixture for securing the longitudinal backing strips.

2. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end ofsaid backing strips is attached to a central ring member, said ringmember being adapted for placement over a main stem at the top of atree.

3. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 2, wherein thegarlands are pendulously draped between each of two longitudinal backingstrips in the predesigned pattern, said longitudinal backing strips alsobeing garland.

4. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 3, wherein thelongitudinal backing strips are made of synthetic plastic, and thegarlands are tinsel.

5. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein the treecovering is provided with an opening along a longitudinal strip topermit the covering to be wrapped around a tree and said longitudinalbacking strip secured by fastening means along said opening when thecovering is in place around a tree.

6. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidmounting fixture is adapted for placement over a main stem at the top ofa tree, said mounting fixture being further provided with an annular rimfor securing the ends of said longitudinal backing strips.

7. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 4, wherein thegarlands are draped in a polygonal pattern and are affixed to each otherby staple fasteners.

8. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 4, further including aplurality of transverse backing strips joined to the longitudinalbacking strips at points of intersection and thereby forming a webnetwork.

9. A decorative tree covering as claimed in claim 8, wherein the webnetwork is embellished with garlands and further adorned with bowsafiixed at the points of intersection between the longitudinal andtransverse strips and further securing the strips at said points.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Prettyman 161--23 Fisher Sr240-10 Hankus 16122 Shoalts 161--22 X Erickson et a1 16122 X Smith 16122US. Cl. X.R.

